The State of Sustainability in the Fashion Industry (2024)

FAQs

What is sustainability in the fashion industry? ›

Sustainable fashion is a way in which brands create clothing that not only reduces the impact on the environment but is also mindful of the people who work to produce the garments.

Waste occurs at every stage of the garment manufacturing process, harming wildlife, degrading land, and polluting soil and water. The fast fashion industry is a significant contributor to the climate crisis, responsible for as much as 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions.

Sustainable fashion focuses on quality rather than quantity. The clothing is made of higher quality materials that are built to last, unlike fast fashion brands. Eco-friendly fabrics also tend to be softer and more durable. As a result, you discard a lot less than you would with fast fashion items.

Textile production is estimated to be responsible for about 20% of global clean water pollution from dyeing and finishing products. A single laundry load of polyester clothes can discharge 700,000 microplastic fibres that can end up in the food chain.

- Sustainable fashion practices include using organic and recycled materials, implementing fair labor practices, reducing carbon emissions and water usage in production processes, and promoting transparency in the supply chain.

ASOS announced four key 2030 goals: Be Net Zero, Be More Circular, Be Transparent and Be Diverse. Through Be More Circular, the business has committed to embracing circular systems that prioritise extending the life of garments and conserving resources by reusing and recycling materials.

The Global Sustainable Fashion Market report anticipates a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.9 percent during 2023-2030, driven by escalating consumer demand and the increasing adoption of eco-friendly fabrics.

Good Maker Tales reports that more than half of Gen Z surveyed will pay 10% more for a sustainable product. 70% claimed that sustainability is an important factor in their buying choices.

The Role of Sustainable Fashion in Reducing Waste

Sustainable fashion plays a crucial role in reducing waste and conserving our environment. It promotes the use of eco-friendly materials and encourages recycling, which drastically reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.

What is the future of sustainable fashion? ›

Improved working conditions in the fashion industry – Incorporating sustainable practices means that the workers who create these products will also be given fair working conditions. No more hassle of generating mass lines of similar products. Let the artists cherish their work and weave magic through their creativity.

Reduced Waste Generation

Sustainable brands aim to reduce waste generation by manufacturing premium apparel from long-lasting materials. These clothing companies try to copy seasonal fashion trends, thus reducing the amount of waste generated in the long run.

On average, 700,000 tons of used clothing gets exported overseas and 2.5 million tons of clothing are recycled. But over three million tons are incinerated, and a staggering 10 million tons get sent to landfills.

In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Today, there are almost 140 developing countries in the world seeking ways of meeting their development needs, but with the ...

What are the pillars of sustainability in the fashion industry? The three pillars of fashion sustainability are economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, and social sustainability.

Conscious fashion is a bit of a catch-all term. It is often used synonymously with “ethical”, “sustainable” or “eco” fashion. Some brands use the name to imply “mindful” and “purposeful”. They don't always have to be a sustainable fashion brand, though some may be.